The Place of Community Forest Management in the REDD+ Landscape

Abstract

Community forest management (CFM) is identified by many actors as a core strategy for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+). Others however see REDD+ as a danger to CFM. In response to these contrasting views, we carried out a systematic review of CFM case studies to look at CFM's potential role in achieving forest carbon benefits and social co-benefits for forest communities. We evaluated the potential impacts of REDD+ on CFM. Our review showed that there is strong evidence of CFM's role in reducing degradation and stabilizing forested landscapes; however, the review also showed less evidence about the role of CFM in reducing deforestation. For social benefits, we found that CFM contributes to livelihoods, but its effect on poverty reduction may be limited. Also, CFM may not deal adequately with the distribution of benefits within communities or user groups. These insights are important for CFM-based REDD+ intervention; measures should be adopted to overcome these gaps. Innovative incentive structures to existing CFM are discussed. The recognition of rights for forest communities is one first step identified in promoting CFM. We call for sound empirical impact evaluations that analyze CFM and CFM-based REDD+ interventions by looking at both biophysical and social outcomes.

Does the ‘One Map Initiative’ Represent a New Path for Forest Mapping in Indonesia? Assessing the Contribution of the REDD+ Initiative in Effecting Forest Governance Reform

“…By positioning REDD+ in this broader context of institutional interplay and political economy, this paper complements and extends literature on REDD+ governance that analyses (i) the challenges and opportunities for the REDD+ initiative to effect forest governance reform [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] and (ii) the potential social and economic impacts of REDD+ policies on local people and communities' participation on project implementations [31][32][33][34][35][36]. Moreover, concepts from political economy have been deployed to explore the challenge of REDD+ in creating incentives for forest conservation that are able to 'out-compete' other interests, such as timber, mining, and agricultural economics [10,[37][38][39].…”

Feasibility of Community Management of Miombo Woodlands for Carbon Project in Southern Highlands of Tanzania

“…Carbon price negotiations are still going on [26,49]. The voluntary carbon market is currently one of the main frameworks within which carbon stock can be sold from CBFM [23,48]. In this market, the minimum price per ton of carbon is about 5 USD during the last quarter of 2015 (Bayon et al, 2007) [23].…”

“…The determinants of feasibility of carbon project development include the amount of carbon stock observed, historical business as usual, carbon price, and associated costs [31,48]. Carbon price negotiations are still going on [26,49].…”

REDD+ Crossroads Post Paris: Politics, Lessons and Interplays

“…Finally, Pelletier et al [36] examine the interplay between REDD+ and community forest management (CFM) to determine the latter's potential role of in achieving forest carbon benefits and social co-benefits for forest communities. Their systematic review of CFM case studies uncovers that there is strong evidence of CFM's role in reducing degradation and stabilising forested landscapes.…”